Dispensing device



July 6, 1943. R- wl BARNES i DISPENSING DEVICE Filed May 13, 1940 -MHHHHMQ 8%. kf @5MM ATTORNEY Patented July 6, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,323,865 DISPEN SIN G DEVICE Robert W. Barnes, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application May 13, 1940, Serial No. 334,836

7 Claims.

This invention has relation to a device for enclosing and retaining a container from which granulated or pulverized material, such as powdered soap, scouring substances, or the like, is adapted to be dispensed.

An object of the invention is to provide a dispensing device which will include several novel and improved features and characteristics of construction.

A further object is to provide a novel and improved device for dispensing granulated or pulverized material which will be of simple and inexpensive construction and will be efficient and completely satisfactory in the performance of its intended function.

And a further object is to provide a device of the present character, having an outlet, or outlets, for dispensing granulated or pulverised materia1 from a, usually orginal, container for said material, which will include a novel and improved construction and arrangement for enclosing and retaining the container, desirably hidden from View, in such relation to the device that material which becomes removed from said containerreadily and easily can pass said dispensing outlet, or dispensing outlets, and in such manner that passage of material from the container to parts of the device other than the parts of said device adjacent said dispensing outlet, or dispensing outlets, eifectually will be precluded.

With the above objects in View, as well as others which will appear as the specication proceeds, the invention comprises the construction, arrangement and combination of parts as now to be fully described and as hereinafter to be specifically claimed, it being understood that the disclosure herein is merely illustrative and intended in no way in a limiting sense, changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts being permissible so long as within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims which follow.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification,

Fig. l is a vertical central sectional View,

Y taken on line I-I in Fig. 4, of a dispensing device made according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical central sectional View, taken on line 2-2 in Fig. vll;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view, taken as on line 3--3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the dispensing device; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational veW detailing a spring element of the dispensing device.

With respect to the drawing andY the numerals of reference thereon, the dispensing device consists of a body I0 anda cover II integral with said body. The body Iil is of hollow cylindrical configuration, as at I2, throughout the major portion of its length and the cover II slants in wardly and upwardly somewhat, or slightly, from the upper end of the hollow cylindrical part I2 of the body, or the location where said body 'and cover meet. The lower part I3 of the body also is hollow and is ared, or tapers, downwardly and outwardly from the location It of jointure between the hollow cylindrical part I2 and said lower part I3. The lower margin or end Iii of the lower part I3 of the body of the dispensing device is perpendicular to the hollow cylindrical part I2 of the body Ill and constitutes a base upon which the dispensing device is adapted to rest while in upright position. The lower end of the body I0 is open, and the cover I I includes a plurality of separate dispensing outlets i6. As disclosed, the dispensing outlets I are of arcuate configuration.

A container or can I'l, which is cylindrical as shown, is adapted to be removably enclosed -by and retained within the body I0 in such relation to said body that a perforated top i8 of said container or can will lie adjacent the perforated cover II of the body IB so that granulated or pulverized material can be removed from the container or can past said perforated cover II and in such manner that passage of material from said container or can to parts of said body I0 other than parts adjacent the dispensing outlets I 6 will be precluded.

The hollow cylindrical part I2 of the body Ill includes a plurality of longitudinally disposed ribs, indicated I9, 2i) and 2|, respectively, which desirably are spaced. apart and protrude inwardly of the interior surface of said body Ill. 'I'he rib I3 is relatively broad or wide, while the ribs 20 and 2l are comparatively narrow, and the inner surfaces of all of said ribs I9, 2li and 2l terminate in a common circumferential or cylindrical surface extending longitudinally of the body I@ and concentrically of the hollow cylindrical part I 2 of said body. More explicitly, the ribs I9, 2i) and 2| dene or determine a circumferential or cylindrical surface having diameter substantially equal to the diameter of a container or can, such as the container or can Il, adapted to be removably received within the body I0. As disclosed, the upper ends of the ribs I9, 20 and 2| terminate, at 22, in spaced relation to the cover II, and the lower ends of said ribs terminate, at 23, in spaced relation to the bottom of the disepnsing device.

The central portion of the cover II of the dispensing device is about as thick as the wall of the hollow cylindrical part I2 of the body I0, and at the general location of jointure between said body I and cover II, the cover is of increased thickness, as denoted at 24, to provide an annular, transverse, downwardly facing shoulder 25 at the inner side of the cover adjacent the upper end of the inner, cylindrical surface of the wall of the hollow part I2 of the body Ill. The outer circumference of the annular, transverse shoulder 25 is contiguous with the wall defining the hollow cylindrical part I2, and the inner circumference of said annular, transverse shoulder 25 terminates a short distance inwardly of the circumferential or cylindrical surface defined by the ribs I9, and 2I.

An annular rubber gasket 26 fitted up against the annular, transverse shoulder includes a flat inner or lower surface 21 thereof adapted to be engaged by the upper circumferential margin or edge 28 of a container or can such as I'I when inserted in its intended position in the dispensing device in such manner as to constitute a seal for precluding the passage of granulated or pulverized material from the container or can to the space 29 below the gasket and between the body I0 and said container or can.

A spring element 30 is adapted to the purpose of releasably retaining a container or can, such as I1, properly situated within and enclosed by thebocly I0 of the dispensing device. As dis- :i

closed, the spring element 30 is a leaf spring disposed longitudinally of said body I0 at a lower portion of and directly below and alined with the broader or wider rib I9. An upper portion of the spring element or leaf spring 3D is riveted or otherwise secured, as at 3I, against a lower cutback part of the rib I9 at the inner surface of the body I0, and the lower end of said spring element or leaf spring terminates just short of the lower margin or end I5 of the dispensing device. Said lower end of the spring elementI or leaf spring 30 includes an integral, inwardly and upwardly extending, curved, resilient hook 32 thereof terminating in an upwardly facing rest 33 adapted to be directly and pressingly engaged against the bottom or lower surface of a container or can such as I'I. The inner surface of the lower part I3 of the body Il) is cut away, as at 34, at location adjacent the outer side of the lower portion of said spring element or leaf spring 30 to provide clearance for manual movement of said lower part outwardly to such extent as to release the upwardly facing rest 33 from beneath a container or can such as I'I.

The inner surface of the cover Il includes a centrally disposed, inwardly or downwardly extending lug or button 35 rigidly supporting the outer or upper end portion of a coil ejector spring 33, and the inner or lower end portion of said coil ejector spring is adapted to be pressingly engaged against the perforated top I8 of a container or can such as I'I enclosed by the body I0 and retained in the dispensing device by the spring element or leaf spring 30.

A container or can such as I1 is adapted to be inserted in and removed from the dispensing device by way of its open bottom or lower portion. In order that a container or can may be inserted or removed, the lower portion of the spring element or leaf spring 30 is manually pushed outwardly into the cut-away portion 34 to extent situating the hook 32 and its rest 33 in clearing relation to the container or can. The construction and arrangement are such that the resilient hook 32 cannot be sprung beneath the container or can until this has been completely inserted in the dispensing device so that the upper circumferential margin or edge of the can has become tightly engaged against the fiat surface 21 of the annular rubber gasket 26, as the parts are disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2. The spring element or leaf spring 30 and its resilient hook V32 are stronger than the coil ejector spring 36,

and the container or can will be retained in engagement with the gasket 26 against the resilient action of said ejector spring. The free end portion of the integral, inwardly and upwardly, curved resilient hook 32 is adapted to be flexed downwardly slightly by engagement of the lower margin or edge portion of the container or can with a downwardly and outwardly curved part 31 of said free end portion upon movement of said hook and the upwardly facing rest 33 to position beneath said container or can. As a consequence, the spring element or leaf spring 30 and its upwardly facing rest 33 will have potential exerting a lifting force under the bottom of the container or can resiliently urging the top of the can against the rubber gasket.

The flared or tapered lower part I3 of the body I0 provides clearance for ready manual manipulation of the spring element or leaf spring 30 and for ready manual removal of a container or can from the dispensing device in any instance when the coil ejector spring 36 may fail to kick or push the container or can loose when released by said spring element or leaf spring.

Evidently, a container or can within and enclosed by the dispensing device is retained against transverse movement relatively to the body I0 by cooperation of the ribs I9, 20 and 2I and against longitudinal movement relatively to said body by cooperation of the annular rubber gasket 26 and the spring element or leaf spring 30.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing device for receiving a container for material, comprising a hollow body open at its bottom and having a perforated cover at its top, a gasket disposed across an upper portion of said hollow body adjacent said perforated cover, a spring element at a lower portion of said hollow body adapted to be engaged against the lower end of a container situated within said hollow body to retain the upper end of said container engaged against said gasket, and an ejector spring situated within said hollow body between said cover and a container in said hollow body adapted to pressingly engage against the upper end of said container.

2. A dispensing device for removably receiving a container for material, comprising a hollow body open at its bottom and having a perforated cover at its top, a gasket disposed in an upper part of said hollow body in parallel relation to the open bottom of the hollow body and in adjacent relation to said perforated cover, a spring element within a lower part of said hollow body including a hook portion of said spring element supporting a rest adapted to be seated under the lower end of a container situated within said hollow body to retain the upper end of said container in pressing engagement against said gasket, and a coil ejector spring situated within said hollow body adapted to pressingly engage against the upper end of a container retained in said hollow body by said spring element.

3. A dispensing device for removably receiving a container for material, comprising a hollow body open at its vbottom and having a perforated cover at its top, a transverse shoulder within said hollow body contiguous with said cover, an endless gasket disposed in said hollow body against said transverse shoulder, a spring element within a lower part of said hollow body including an upwardly and inwardly extending hook portion of said spring element supporting an upwardly facing rest adapted to be seated against the bottom of a container situated within said hollow body to retain a portion of the top of said container pressingly engaged against said endless gasket, a lug situated within said hollow body and supported by said cover, and a coil ejector spring supported by said lug adapted to pressingly engage against the top of a container retained in said hollow body by said spring element.

4. A dispenser for removably receiving a container for material, comprising a hollow body open at its bottom and having a perforated cover at its top, a plurality of spaced apart ribs protruding inwardly of said hollow body determining a cylindrical surface having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of a container adapted to be received within said hollow body, a gasket disposed across an upper portion of said hollow body adjacent said perforated cover, a spring element at a lower portion of said hollow bodyadapted to be engaged against the lower end of a container situated within said hollow body to retain the upper end of said container engaged against said gasket, and an ejector spring situated within said hollow body and supported by said cover adapted to pressingly engage against the upper end of a container retained in said hollow body by said spring element.

5. A dispensing device for removably receiving a container for material, comprising a body having a hollow cylindrical upper part, a hollow lower part aring outwardly and downwardly from the hollow cylindrical upper part and a perforated cover rigid with the upper end of said hollow cylindrical upper part, a plurality of spaced apart ribs protruding inwardly of said hollow cylindrical upper part determining a cylindrical surface having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of a container adapted to be received within said body, a gasket within said body disposed against said perforated cover, and a spring element within said hollow lower part including a hook portion of said spring element adapted to be seated against the bottom of a container situated within said body to retain the top of said container engaged against said gasket.

6. A dispensing device for removably receiving a container for material, comprising a body having a hollow cylindrical upper part, a hollow lower part flaring outwardly and downwardly from the hollow cylindrical upper part and a perforated cover rigid with the upper end of said hollow cylindrical upper part, a plurality of spaced apart, longitudinally extending ribs protruding inwardly of said hollow cylindrical upper part determining a cylindrical surface having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of a container adapted to be received within said body, a gasket within said body disposed against said perforated cover, and a leaf spring within said hollow lower part including a hook portion of said leaf spring adapted to be seated against the bottom of a container situated within said body to retain the top of said container engaged against said gasket.

'7. The combination as specified in claim 6, a lug situated within said hollow :body and supported by said cover, and a coil ejector spring supported by said lug adapted to pressingly engage against the top of a container retained in said hollow body by said spring element.

ROBERT W. BARNES. 

